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Judith Wycall

Judith Mercer Wycall, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend

75, formerly of Chatham NJ; Duxbury, MA; Skidaway Island, GA and Easton, MD; died peacefully in the morning of August 9, 2018.

“Mom, We will remember your beautiful smile every day for the rest of our lives, how lucky we were to have had a devoted, fun-loving mother, who always gave of her time and heart. Thank you for always being there for us, for teaching us, listening to us, helping and forgiving us, loving us, making things special for us, and always, always paving the way for us. “

Born in Summit, N.J., January 5, 1943, daughter of Ralph Mercer and Helen Davis Mercer. She graduated from Chatham High School and went on to study Liberal Arts at Green Mountain College in Vermont. After graduation she enjoyed travel as an American Airlines flight attendant.

On June 5, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart Thomas Evers Wycall, a Navy lieutenant gunnery officer and midshipman during the Vietnam conflict, serving in the territorial waters of Japan on the guided missile destroyer USS Joseph Strauss. .

Growing up in Chatham Township, then later with their young family, Judith and Tom moved from Japan to Hawaii, to the mid-west, and then back east to Chatham Boro where they enjoyed cheering for soccer games from the sidelines. Later they moved to New England, settling in the coastal town Duxbury, MA. Later then down south to Skidaway Island, GA, before one more move to Easton, MD.

Judith enjoyed volunteer work as a member of the Junior League of Morristown, also working on the Fishawack Committee and Reading Programs at the local library.

As a child, she enjoyed playing with young chicks on her parents farm, helping her Dad raise the best Jersey Tomatoes, excelling at tap dance classes, and twirling her baton in the band. She was a great athlete and enjoyed playing tennis, paddle tennis and sunbathing. She also enjoyed taking day trips to discover new places, and was especially fond of her dogs too. In her words “they all gave me so many hours of unprecedented joy. No favorites. I loved them all but in different ways.”

Judith was a lover of music from the 1950 and 60’s, Christmas carols and musicals. She also loved to sing in the kitchen while cooking dinner, not only for others but her extended family of four-legged friends (Tobey, Ashley, Buffett, Willow and Dory).

She was always a wonderful neighbor, thoughtful and kind, often the first to welcome someone through Welcome Wagon. She also cared for a number of older family and friends, visiting them and helping them in many ways, and was a former outstanding Girl Scout leader. She took her kids to every kind of sporting event, and gave them the opportunity to try everything from fishing trips down in Florida to ice skating and hockey lessons to swim team meets. Also cooking for full soccer teams her lasagna dinners, for the hungry high-schoolers as they were growing up.

She was most proud of her children: Laura (Matt), Scott (Lori), and Brian (Liz).

Survivors include her husband Thomas; her three children, Laura Jean and her husband Matthew, Scott and his wife, Lori, Brian and his wife, Liz; her grandchildren, Chase, Lila, Andy and Willie. Not to be forgotten, her beloved 12 year old golden retriever, Dory.

Her brother, Robert Mercer died earlier.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 18, from 11am to 12 pm, with a Prayer Service at 12 pm at Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Chatham, Interment private

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Judith’s memory to the Hospice@Gilchrist.